Shuttle expeller for weaving machines



Nov. 9, 1954 p, DARASH 2,693,830

SHUTTLE EXPELLER FOR WEAVING MACHINES Filed May 29 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l 'IIII.

JNVENTOR.

5 a NlcHoms/P DHEHSH A 7' TOENEJ/S N 1954 N. P. DARASH 3,

SHUTTLE EXPELLER FOR WEAVING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I /V/cH 0L H6 .D/IQASH HTTOENUJ' Filed May 29, 1951 NOV. 9, 1954 p DARASH 2,693,830

SHUTTLE EXPELLER FOR WEAVING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. lvlcl-mms F. Dams/1 Nov. 9, 1954 i N. P. DARASH 2,693,330

SHUTTLE EXPELLER FOR WEAVING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. N/CHOL H5 EDAEHSH v BY w United States Patent r, 2,693,830 SHUTTLE \EXPELLER FOR WEAVING MACHINES Nicholas P. Darash, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 29, 1951, Serial No. 228,858

27 Claims. (Cl. 139-126) This application relates to weaving, especially high speed weaving and the control of weaving machinery.

An object of the invention is to provide improved weaving machinery of the gripper shuttle type in which the weft yarn or thread is automatically cut into lengths and successive lengths of weft or filler are laid in the shed by separate gripper shuttles. The invention concerns particularly apparatus in which shuttles are propelled from a picking box at one side of the weaving machine through the shed to a receiving box at the other side of the weaving machine and thence transferred to a conveyor which returns them to the first side of the weaving machine preparatory to being transferred back to the picking box.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for transferring-such gripper shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle conveyor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide increased reliability and certainty of expulsion and greater accuracy of timing of expulsion of shuttles from a passageway leading from the receiving box as well as avoidance of interference with such operation by successive oncoming shuttles from the receiving box.

A more particular object of the invention is to hold each shuttle in a fixed position in the passageway until the expeller acts thereon and to hold the following shuttle back automatically in position where it will avoid interference with the expeller or the shuttle being expelled.

Still another object of the invention is to synchronize the expulsion of shuttles and the retention of successive shuttles properly with the other movements of the weaving machinery, such as shed opening and closing, and shuttle picking.

Still another object of the invention is to accomplish certain, reliable and effective operation of stop mechanism in the event of faulty movement of a shuttle in the expelling position or adjacent thereto.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, the receiving box of a gripper shuttle type automatic weaving machine is provided with an arcuate shuttle transfer passageway through which the shuttles will be ejected from the receiving box transversely and rotated through an angle of 90 degrees so as to be deposited upon the conveyor for returning them to the picking side of the weaving machine in a position where they are resting on their sides. This permits an improved type of conveyor to be employed.

Mechanism is provided at the lower end of the arcua'te passageway for holding each shuttle preparatory to being deposited upon the shuttle return conveyor and an expeller is provided associated with the shuttle holder with means for simultaneously causing the shuttle holding means to release the shuttle it has been holding and causing the shuttle expeller to expel the shuttle from the arcuate passageway and to hold back the succeeding shuttle in each passageway. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, cam operated mechanism synchronized with picking mechanism of the weaving machine is provided for actuating the shuttle holder and the shuttle expeller.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view (partially broken away) of the weaving machine, that is a view as seen from the operators side;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the weaving machine of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right side;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the front righthand portion of the apparatus (including the receiving box) designated by arrows 3-3 in Fig. 2, as seen from the front of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a broken cross-sectional view of the portion of the apparatus (including the first shuttle brake) represented as seen from the left-hand side of the weaving machine cut by a broken plane 44 indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view represented as seen from the back of the weaving machine that is the side away from the breast beam, represented as cut by the plane 5-5 indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus (including the shuttle opener)- represented as seen from the left-hand side of the weaving machine cut by a plane 66 indicated in Fig. 5; the direction from which the fragmentary section of Fig. 6 is represented as being seen is thus the same as in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view (showing the shuttle detector) corresponding to Fig. 4 but representing a section cut by a plane 77 further to the right than the plane 44 indicated in Fig. 3;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 7, representing sections of the apparatus cut by two additional planes 8-8 (showing shuttle opener operating mechanism), and 9-9 (showing shuttle expeller operating mechanism), respectively, still further to the right than the planes 4-4 and 7-7 as indicated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a view at greatly enlarged scale of the portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4, including the shuttle holder and the shuttle expeller with shuttles in the transfer passageway, and

Fig. 11 is a view of the apparatus of Fig. 10 with the mechanism in the shuttle expulsion position.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing to designate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, in the form of apparatus shown by way of illustration, the weaving machine comprises a supporting frame including a pair of side plates 21 and 22 (represented in Fig. 1) secured to cross members 23 and 24, shown in cross-section in Fig. 2. The weaving machine is of the gripper shuttle type as illustrated. In Fig. 1 there is visible a roll of cloth 25 which has been wound on the cloth beam 26. There are heddle frames 27 carrying heddles for the weaving machine. Shedding mechanism is enclosed within the housing 28 shown at the left in Fig. 1 and one or more stationary spools or packages 29 are provided for the weft yarns. The machine may be provided with shuttle picking, guiding and conveying mechanism of the general type illustrated in Patents 2,160,338, 2,160,339, 2,136,703, 2,420,380 Moessinger and 2,099,627 Rossmann.

In the apparatus represented in Fig. 1 there is an electric motor 31 for providing the driving power, which is adapted to drive the main shaft 32 through a suitable drive, such as a belt or chain drive 33. A hand wheel 36 may also be provided for the main drive shaft 32. In order to facilitate rapid stoppage of operating parts of the weaving machine in case of thread failure or failure of some operative part of the weaving machine, an automatically operating clutch and brake mechanism is also provided which is concealed within the drum 37, represented in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, the weaving machine includes a warp beam 38, heddle frames 27 carrying heddle eyes 39, a picker box 41 including lay mechanism 42, and the cloth beam 26. There is a conventional supporting bar 43 carrying a plurality of drop wires 44 for an electrical stop mechanism responsive to failure of warp yarn, a stop shaft 45 represented in cross-section in Fig. 2 adapted to be actuated by any one of numerous stop motions, not visible in Fig. 2, including certain conventional stop mechanisms, not described herein, as well as novel mechanisms hereinafter described, and a manual control handle 46 for starting and stopping the weaving machine. The warp beam 33 is provided with a let-off mechanism comprising a gear drive including gears 47 and 48 mounted respectively on a shaft 50 and on the warp beam 38. For removably supporting one or more warp beams for adapting the weaving machine to .produce one or more widths of cloth, a supporting frame 49 is provided such as described in greater detail in my Paltle151t12,514,152. There is a pivoted support for a whip r During the operation of the weaving machine the warp yarns or threads 52 are drawn from the warp beam 38 over the whip roll 51 through the drop wires 44 and formed into a shed 53 by the operation of the heddles 27 controlled by the shedding mechanism 28. 'They are then drawn through the dents of the reed 54 carried by the lay mechanism 42 along conventional rolls 55 to the cloth beam 26 in the form of cloth 56. As in conventional gripper-shuttle weaving machines, the weft threads thrown through the shed 53 to a receiving-box 58 by the mechanism in the picker box 41 driven by a picker shaft 57, geared to the main shaft 32, are beaten in by the reed 54 to form the cloth 56. In order to avoidweaving defective cloth in the event of warp breakage, weft failure, or other faulty operation and in order to guard against the weaving of numerous picks of cloth after such a defect has occurred as a result of the high speed of operation of the automatic weaving machine shown, a suitable mechanism associated with the stop shaft 45 is provided for stopping the weaving machine as soon as a warp thread failure, weft fault, or some other failure takes place.

As shown in Fig. 3, the main drive shaft 32 for the apparatus extends through the receiving box 58 for driving the mechanism associated therewith.

The path of the shuttle after leaving the picker box 41 is represented in Fig. 3 by the broken line 59. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the shuttle is propelled through shuttle guides 61, only some of which are illustrated to avoid confusion in the drawing. For returning the shuttles to the picker box after they have reached the receiving box, a shuttle conveyor 62 is provided.

The receiving box 53 includes various parts serving as successive stations for the shuttle and also includes operating mechanism for controlling and moving the shuttle. As illustrated in Fig. there is an opening 63 in registry with the openings in the guides 61. The first station for the shuttle is represented in Fig. 5, by a first brake mechanism 64; following it is a second brake mechanism 65. The mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, includes also a returner or positioner 66, a shuttle detector 67 and a shuttle opener 68.

The next station for the shuttle after its position has been adjusted by the shuttle returner 66 is illustrated by Figs. 4, l0 and 11, showing an arcuate passageway 71 into which the shuttles are transferred by being moved transversely or laterally from the opening 63 represented in Fig. 5. The next station for the shuttle after leaving the receiving box is represented in Fig. 4 by the shuttle resting in the shuttle conveyor 62.

Considering more in detail the mechanism represented in Fig. 5, the first brake assembly 64 includes a brake shoe 72 connected to operating mechanism through a toggle joint, shown in Fig. 4, including linkmernbers '73, and a pin 74 connecting the link members 73, to a lever 75. The latter is pivoted by pin 76 to the upper end. of a lever 77, pivotally mounted on a shaft or pin 73. For operating the brake assembly 64 there is a pair of cams 79 and 80 cooperating with cam followers 31 and 82 supported at the ends of a forked portion 83 of the lever 77. The earns 79 and 80 are splined to the main drive shaft 32 which also drives the picking mechanism 41 and other parts of the weaving machine so that the brake mechanism is applied in timed relation with the movement of the shuttle. The first brake assembly 64, shown as having its brake shoe 7?. movable under the control of the described operating mechanism serves for glsowing down the shuttle as it enters the receiving box For bringing the shuttle to a positive stop, the second brake assembly 65 is provided which has a fixed brake shoe 85 at the lower end thereof.

The shuttle detector 67 shown in Figs. 5 and 7 is lifted by the shuttle as it enters the pasageway and forces the detector 67 upward against the action of a spring 86. For enabling the shuttle detector to actuate stop mechanism in case a shuttle fails to reach the detector, the shuttle detector 67 is formed with a portion having an opening 87 (Fig. 5) adapted to permit longitudinal movement therethrough of a rod 98, and has a toothed portion 89 (Fig. 7) adapted to cooperate with ratchet teeth 90 in the rod 88. Operating mechanism is provided for oscillating the rod 83. Such mechanism includes a lever 92 pivoted on a pin 93 which is mounted in a horizontally slidable block 94. For ordinarily holding the block 94 in its normal position, springs 95 and 96 are provided. A notch 97 is formed in the upper surface of a stepped portion of the block 94 and cooperating therewith it has mounted therein a ball detent 98 adapted to cooperate with a vertically movable rod 99 abutting the lower surface of one end of a rocker lever 101 pivoted on a shaft 102 and having a lower surface at the opposite end bearing upon the upper end of a vertically slidable rod 103. In registry with the lower end of the rod 103 is an abutment 104 secured to the stop shaft 45.

The arrangement is such that whenever a shuttle occupies the space 106 under the foot of the shuttle detector 67, the detector 67 is pressed upward against the force of the spring 86 permitting the horizontally slidablc rod 88 to slide back and forth without contacting the shuttle detector tooth 89. However, in the event of a failure of a shuttle to be picked or in case a shuttle is so far spent as not to reach the shuttle detector 67, the spring 86 forces the shuttle detector 67 downward so far that the teeth 99 of the horizontally slidable mem ber 88 engage the tooth 39 preventing the return of the member 88 to its right-hand position normally assumed when the lever 92 oscillates under the action of cams 107 and 108 cooperating with cam followers 109 and 110. The holding of the member 88, therefore, prevents the lever 92 from moving back toward the right. But, since the cam follower 109 is positively driven by the cam 107, the pivot pin 93 is forced to the left, thus forcing the block 94 also to the left against the force of the spring 95 and forcing the ball detent 98 up the sloping side of the notch 97. This lifts the rod 99 and the left-hand end of the rocker lever 101 causing the opposite end to move downward against the rod 103 pressing noon the abutment 104 and turning the stop shaft 45. The stop shaft is a conventional part of weaving apparatus of the gripper shuttle type and rotation thereof actuates suitable mechanism (not illustrated herein), for causing the brake and clutch mechanism within the drum 37 represented in Fig. l to come into action for shutting down the weaving machinery.

The shuttle returner or positioner comprises an assembly including the shuttle return rod 66 (Fig. 5), a horizontal shaft 121 connected to the member 66 through a crank 122 and a link 123 for oscillating the shaft 121 in synchronism with the other weaving machine mechanism. Cam mechanism is provided including a cam follower 124 (shown by hidden lines in Fig. 9) cooperating with a cam 125 only partly visible and shown in part by hidden lines in Fig. 9, a vertically movable post 126, represented by hidden lines in Fig. 9, acting against the lower surface of one end of a rocker lever 127 shown in Figs. 3 and 9, and a corresponding cam follower and cam mechanism, not shown, acting upon the lower surface of the other end of the rocker lever 127, the rocker lever 127 being secured to the positioner actuating shaft 121. The angular relation of the cams actuating the shaft 121 to the cams operating the picker mechanism is such that when a shuttle is received through the opening 63 (Fig. 5) in the receiving box, the shuttle return rod 66 is in the retracted position to the left of that shown in Fig. 5; and subsequent thereto the shaft 121 is oscillated to bring the shuttle returner 66 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Thereupon the shuttle is in a suitable position for operation of the shuttle opener 68 (Figs. 5 and 6) and subsequent transfer into the arcuate passageway 71 shown in Fig. 4.

The shuttle opening mechanism comprises an assembly including the shuttle opener'rod 68 which is formed with a rack 128 at the upper end thereof as shown in Fig. 6, cooperating with a toothed sector member 129 secured to a horizontal shaft 131, represented also in Fig. 8, carrying a crank 133, to which is pivoted a connecting rod 134, pivotally secured at the opposite end to the upper end of a lever 135, pivotally secured to a laterally horizontally movable pin 136 and having a forked portion extending downwardly, to which are secured cam followers 137 and 138 cooperating with cams 139 and 140, respectively, omitted for clarity from Fig. 8,

both cams being splined to the common drive shaft 32 of the weaving machine. The pivot pin 136 is secured in a horizontally slidable block 141, normally held in a normal position by springs 142 and 143.

For causing the weaving machine to be shut down by faulty positioning of the shuttle or faulty actuation of the shuttle opener 68, interfering with movement thereof, connections to the stop mechanism are provided similar to those in connection with the shuttle detector 67. Thus, the block 141 is provided with a notch 144 cooperating with a ball detent 145, a vertically movable rod 146, a rocker lever 147, a second vertically movable rod 148 and an additional abutment 149, also mounted on the common stop shaft 45. It will be understood that shuttles for weaving machines of the gripper shuttle type are constructed with an opening therein and arranged for causing the weft thread gripper jaws to spread and release the weft thread when the shuttle opener 68 is forced into the shuttle. However, since the construction of the shuttle does not form a part of my present invention, the specific details of the shuttle need not be further described nor illustrated.

After the shuttle opener 68 has been driven into the shuttle for releasing the weft thread and retracted again, the shuttle 151 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 is ready to be transferred laterally from the last mentioned position into the arcuate passageway 71. For accomplishing this, an assembly is provided including a shuttle pusher rod 152 having an end 153 projecting into the receiving box and secured at the opposite end to a horizontally slidable block 154. For oscillating the block 154, a cam mechanism is provided including, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a lever 155 carrying at its forked lower end, cam followers 156 and 157 cooperating with cams 158 and 159 (Fig. 8). The lever 155 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 161 secured to a horizontally slidable block 162. The lever 155 extends upward, carrying in its upper end, a pin 163 adapted to cooperate with a slot 164 formed in the forked lower end of a lever 165 (see Fig. 7) secured at the upper end to a shaft 166 from which extends downwardly an arm (not shown) connected to the block 154 (Fig. 4) for oscillating it hori- 22211111) in response to oscillation of the levers 155 and 1 As shown, the lever 155 has an opening 167 to avoid interference with the shaft 102. In case of obstructions or faulty movement of the shuttle 151 interfering with movement of the shuttle pusher rod 152 to the left, the motion of the levers 155 and 165 is arrested, causing lateral movement to the ri ht of the block 162 against the pressure of the spring 143 and actuation of the ball detent 144 for operation of the stop shaft 45 as previously described.

After the shuttle 151 represented in Fig. 4 has been acted upon by the shuttle pusher 153, it falls into the position represented at 168 in the arcuate transfer passageway 71. In the arrangement illustrated, three shuttles 168, 169 and 170 are shown in the transfer passageway 71. It will be understood that these shuttles also represent successive positions assumed by any shuttle after it has left a position represented by the shuttle 151 and travels through the passageway 71.

For controlling the movement of these shuttles and properly synchronizing the expulsion of the last shuttle 170 from the passageway 71 so that it will reach the position represented by the shuttle 171 on the shuttle conveyor 62, at the proper time, a shuttle expeller and holder assembly is provided. This assembly (Figs. 4, and 11) includes an expeller crank 172 secured to an expeller crank shaft 173 and having a pivot pin 174 at the end of the crank by which is pivotally mounted an expeller member 175 having a rodlike portion 176 extending in a generally downward direction and a cam portion 177 extending in a generally diagonally upward direction, so that the portions 176 and 177 make an obtuse angle. For cooperating with the cam portion 177, an abutment pin 178 is secured to the shuttle guiding member or block 179 in which the passageway 71 is formed. Cooperating with the expeller member 175 is a shuttle retainer member 181. For pivotally supporting the shuttle retainer 181, a pivot pin 182 is provided which is fixed in the block 179. The shuttle retainer 181 is formed with a generally downward extending portion having a nose 183, adapted to extend into the shuttle transfer passageway 71 when the retainer is deflected to the position of Fig. 10, and clearing the passageway 71 when the member 181 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 11. Extending generally upward from the pivot pin 182, the shuttle retainer 181 is provided with cam follower portion or tail end 184 or wing portion having an edge especially shaped with portions 185, 186 and 188 adapted to cooperate with a hub 189 formed on the expeller memligli which is circular except for a flattened side The retainer member 181 is provided, also with a camming portion 192 against which the rod-like portion 176 of the expeller 175 is adapted to rest. Preferably, the lower left edge of the member 176 is shaped at 193 to fit the camming portion 182. As shown, the distance from the axis of rotation of the crank 172, i. e.,- the center of the shaft 173, to the abutment pin 178 is less than the length of the crank arm 172. This permits the expeller 175 to be angular in form with a relatively short camming portion 177, so as to provide an exceedingly compact, yet reliable, sturdy mechanism. Moreover, the members 172 and 181 have their rotation axes relatively close beside the transfer passageway 71.

The normal rest position of the shuttle expeller and returner mechanism is as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 10. For expelling the last shuttle in the passageway 71, in the position represented at 170, to the position on the conveyor represented by the shuttle 171, an assembly is provided with means for oscillating the shaft 173. This assembly includes an additional crank 194 (Fig. 9) secured to the shaft 173, a bent-end connecting rod 195 pivoted at the bent end to the end of the crank 194 and pivoted at the other upper end by pivot pin 196 at the upper end of a lever 197, having a horizontally movable pivot pin 198 and downwardly extending fork portion carrying cam followers 199 and 200 adapted to cooperate with cams 201 and 202. The pin 198 is secured in a horizontally slidable block 203 having a slot 204 for carrying a ball detent 205. As in the case of the stop actuating mechanisms previously described, there is a vertically movable rod 206 resting on the ball detent 205, rocker lever 207, a downwardly extending vertically slidable rod 208, and an abutment 209 on the same stop shaft 45 actuated by the other stop motion connections.

The shuttle expeller and retainer mechanism operates in the following manner. Starting with shuttles in a position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 10, when the main drive shaft 32 with the cams 201 and 202 has rotated approximately degrees from the position shown in Fig. 9, the upper end of the lever 197 carrying the pin 196 is deflected to the right carrying the bent end connecting shaft 195 with it, rotating the expeller shaft 173 through a sufiicient angle to bring the crank 172 and connected parts to the position shown in Fig. 11.

It will be observed that in the position of Fig. 10, the shuttle retainer 181 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 10 by reason of the fact that the surface of the cam follower 184 bears upon the circular surface of the hub 189 and the back of the cam follower 184 bears against a collar 211 on the shaft 173. In this position, the nose 183 projects into the arcuate passageway 71, thus retaining the shuttle 170 in the position shown and likewise, retaining the shuttles 169 and 168 resting upon the shuttle 170. The shuttle expeller member 175 is likewise locked in the position illustrated by Fig. 10 by reason of the fact that the camming portion 177 bears against the abutment 178 and edge 193 lies against the cam portion 192 of the shuttle retainer 181.

As soon as the expeller shaft 173 starts to rotate clockwise, under the action of the cam 201 shown in Fig. 9, the crank 172 starts to bring the crank pin 174 and the shuttle expeller member 175 downward. This causes the lower striker end 212 of the rod-like portion 176 of the expeller 175 to enter the shuttle transfer passageway 71 and to approach the surface 213 of the shuttle 170. Simultaneously. the circular portion of the hub 189 of the expeller 175 rides off the edge portion 185 of the retainer 181 to the edge portion 186 and permits the retainer 181 to rotate toward the position thereof illus trated in Fig. 11. During the first portion of the stroke of the crank 172, however, the abutment 178 and the 7; in Fig,.1-,1... With: further. rotation-of the crank lin the hub-189-rides along the edge portion 13.83015. theretainer. tail1184- until-.it-approaohes; the position shownrin Fig. 11

Since,.however, the rodflike portion 1760f theshuttle retainer. 1-751- has entered the passageway 71, its.-surface- 214'slides along'the surface215:of.the shutt1e169=next above: the. shuttle 170, thus. serving: to. hold" back the shuttle 169. and the-shuttleaboveit, namely, shuttle 163; while continuing to apply force to the shuttle 170, causing. it:.to:be expelledclear of; the passageway 71, to dropout of. the opening 216 in the-passageway 71 to the position illustrated in Fig; 11. Thereupon it'rests upon the shuttle conveyor: 62, taking theplace: ofv the shuttle 171-.

It will be understood that: the motion of the;shuttle; conveyor 62 is synchronized with the other" operating mechanisms oftheweavingmachines so that the, shuttle 171'has.;been:transported out of .thewaybefore the. shuttle 1l7i0rdrops in theposition shownin Fig; l'l. Meanwhile theoarnmingportion 192; continues toguide-v the rod like portion 17,6'of..the;expeller 175 anclto prevent the-shuttle; 169: fromzdeflecting the expellen member. 175 any. further clockwisethan-.theposition illustrated in Fig, 1.1.. Moreover, the. surface 214; serves as a stop,- holding back shuttles 169 and 168. As illustrated,.thecamming portion 17.7;will have ridden ofhthe abutment178. before reaching the position: illustrated; in Fig. 11. But the; surface 192 of: the. retainer 181 serves for guiding the expeller 175 after the camming portion 177 has ridden .off the abutment With the next half rotation of. the drive shaft 32 of the weaving machine, the: cam 202. acting upon the cam follower'200:causes thelever 197 to oscillate back to the position illustrated in Fig. 9,. thereby lifting the crank 172? again andrestoring the parts of themechanism to the position illustrated in.Fig. 10. Each of the shuttles, however, illustrated in Fig. 10, has been advanced one position. Itwill be observed that by reason of the arcuate shape of' the passageway 71 consisting of an arc of approximately 90 degrees length, although the shuttles are picked-from a horizontal position and projected through the shed with the wider surface horizontal, they are deposited upontheshuttle conveyor 62 edgewise.

In the event there shouldbe any obstruction in the transfer-passageway 71 by reason oft a damaged or defective; shuttle or some other reason, or in case-damage to the apparatus should cause interference.- with the rotary oscillation'of the rotating. shaft173; the'wrist pin'196 at the upper end of. the lever 197 (Fig. 9) would be heldina fixed position during the rotation of the maindrive shaft32- and the cams 201; and-.202,.thus forcing the floating pivot pin 198 either to the right or to the l'eft'depending upon the position in the cycle of operation ini which the obstruction occurred. Thereupon, as described, inconnectionwith the other stop devices, the ball detent 205 would rise causing the rocker lever 2.07" to rotate. clockwise and to cause the rod 208 to depress the stop shaftiabutment 209.

ItzWill' be observed, therefore, that the shuttle expeller and retainer'mechanism provide. positive actuation ofthe shuttles intransferring them throughthe; transfer passageway 71 to the conveyor 62 with the angular andaxial position; ofall parts. of the mechanism positively controlled at all times; so that faulty-operation of the mechanism is obviated. Nevertheless, in the eventof accidentor in the event that defective shuttles should cause blockage of the passageway 71 or any other interference-with. the movement of the shuttles, thestop mech nism is actuatedand the weaving machine is automatically shut down. In the event of' faultycperformance of the shuttle in other stages of its motion from the picking box to the receiving box' and back, such faulty action or defective condition of the shuttleresults in operation of the otherstop mechanism controlsso'that the shuttles may be projected into the shed at a very high rateof speed and returned very rapidly Without any danger of damage to the weaving machine. or. to the cloth being woven by reason: of the accidental deviation from the intended mode ofper formance.

While the invention has been described as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specifiemanner in accordance with the provisions of the-patent statutes, it should be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto, since variousmodifications:will'suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing'from the spirit of the invention.

8 Whats isfclaimed is; It In: a-weavingmachine of the gripper shuttle; type; having a shuttle picker, a receiving box including-mech. anism for receiving and braking shuttles, and a return;

- conveyor for returning shuttles from: the; receiving box a crank havinganaxis of rotation about which it oscil-- lates, and an. abutment, said shuttle expeller having: a. pivot pin by which itis pivotally mounted at: the. end of said crank and being formed. with. a hub around thepivot pin. and a rod-like portion extending from said: pivotpin'with anend adapted to'serve asa shuttle striker,. and having-a; camming-portion: making an obtuse angle: with said rod-like portion, said rod-like portion being movable along. said shuttle retainer in a path between said retainer" and said passageway, and said abutment being spaced from the axis of said crank less than the.- length of the crank, wherebythe said. camming portion. strikes the abutment when the crank is in the. position= to retract the expeller from the said passageway for pressing said rod-like portion against said retainer, and: said hub strikes said retainer tail' to deflect the retainer to the position with its nose blocking the said passagewayopening, and. oscillation of the crank to the opposite. position releases said retainer nose simultaneously with: entry of said expeller in said passageway for expelling a shuttle, with the shuttle retainer nose deflected from. the-passageway opening to permit such expeller shuttleto leave the opening while the rod-like portion of the expeller holds back the succeeding shuttles in the saidi passageway. 7

2. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a receiving box for shuttles, and a return conveyor for returning shuttles from thereceiving box'to the shuttle picker, the combination com-- prising a shuttle guiding member interposed between the shuttle box and the conveyor, said shuttle guiding memher having a passageway therein with an opening adjacent the conveyor, a movable shuttle retainer having a nose portion adapted to be deflected into the passageway for retaining a shuttle adjacent the opening inthe passageway, an oscillating shuttle expeller having a striking end adapted to be moved into said passageway for expelling a shuttle therefrom through said opening and having a surface adapted to ride along the succeedingshuttle for holding the succeeding shuttle back while expelling the shuttle nearer the passageway opening, said shuttle retainer and shuttle expeller being formed withcooperating surfaces bearing against each other for relatively deflecting said retainer and said expeller to thepositions with the retainer nose in the passageway when the expeller striking end is retracted from the passage way and with the shuttle retainer nose free to retract from the passageway when the shuttle expeller end is driven inthe passageway.

3. Apparatus: as in claim 2 wherein the shuttle transfer passageway is curved and comprises substantially anarc of degrees for causing the shuttles to be deposited upon the conveyor in position at right angles to a position in which the shuttles are picked.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein an oscillating lever, having a floating pivot point is employed for oscillat: ing the shuttle expeller, resilient means are provided'for' normally holding said pivot point in normal position and a stop mechanism responsive to deflection of. said pivot point is provided forshutting down the weaving machine in the event of interference with motion. of the shuttle expeller in response to oscillation of said lever, forcing the floating pivot point to be deflected.

5. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a receiving box for shuttles, and a return: conveyor for'returning shuttles from the receivingbox'to-the shuttle picker, the combination comprising a shuttle guiding member interposed between the. receiving box and the conveyor, said shuttle guiding; member having a transfer passageway therein with an: opening adjacent the conveyor; a movable shuttle retainer for retaining shuttles at the exit end of the transfer passageway until ready to be expelled, a positively driven expeller for expelling shuttles from said passageway and means formed on the shuttle retainer adapted to bear against the shuttle expeller and so positioned with response to the expeller that movement of the expeller produces reciprocal movement of the retainer, whereby the retainer releases the shuttle whenever the shuttle expeller strikes against a shuttle to expel it from the shuttle transfer passageway.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, in which the shuttle expeller is formed with a surface for holding back the succeeding shuttles when expelling a shuttle from the shuttle transfer passageway opening.

7. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, the combination including a receiving box and a return conveyor for returning shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker, a shuttle guiding member interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor, said receiving box including a movable brake for slowing down shuttles entering the receiving box, a shuttle positioner for moving the shuttle back to a fixed position after coming to a stop, a shuttle pusher for pushing a shuttle out of the receiving box transversely into the shuttle transfer passageway, a positively driven shuttle expeller for expelling the shuttle from the transfer passageway to the return conveyor, a shuttle retainer movably mounted and bearing against the shuttle expeller arranged for movement responsive to movement of the shuttle expeller to retain a shuttle in the passageway until acted upon by a shuttle expeller, floating pivot driving mechanism for said shuttle brake, said shuttle pusher and said shuttle expeller, resilient means for normally holding the pivots of said floating pivot driving means in normal position and stop mechanism responsive to displacement of said floating pivots for shutting down the weaving machine in response to interference with operation of said driven mechanisms.

8. A weaving machine comprising a shuttle picker, a receiving box including mechanism for receiving shuttles, a return conveyor for returning shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker, a shuttle guiding member interposed between the shuttle box and the conveyor, said shuttle guiding member having a passageway therein with an opening adjacent the conveyor, a shuttle expeller for expelling shuttles from said opening to said conveyor, and a shuttle retainer having a portion adapted to prevent discharge of shuttles from said passageway and having another portion adapted to engage said expeller for locking the shuttle retainer in a position in which it prevents discharge of shuttles from said passageway.

9. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a shuttle receiving box, a conveyor for returning the shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor having a transfer passageway therein, in combination with a shuttle expeller with drive means for expelling a shuttle from the passageway to the conveyor, a shuttle retainer responsive to position of the shuttle expeller to retain shuttles in the passageway until the shuttle expeller is actuated by said drive means, said shuttle retainer and said shuttle expeller being alternatively movable into the transfer passageway, and the retainer having a wing portion engageable by said expeller when retracted from the passageway for holding the retainer in shuttle blocking position in the passageway, a shuttle pusher with drive means for intermittently pushing shuttles laterally from said receiving box into said transfer passageway, normally inactive resilient means interposed in said drive means, and mechanism responsive to actuation of said normally inactive resilient means for shutting down the weaving machine in response to interference with operation of said pusher or said expeller.

10. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a shuttle receiving box, a conveyor for returning the shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor having a transfer passageway therein, in combination with a shuttle expeller with drive means for expelling a shuttle from the passageway to the conveyor, a shuttle retainer responsive to position of the shuttle expeller to retain shuttles in the passageway until the shuttle expeller is actuated by said drive means, said shuttle retainer and said shuttle expeller being alternatively movable into the transfer passageway, and the retainer having a wing portion engageable by said expeller when retracted from the passageway for holding the retainer in shuttle blocking position in the passageway, and a shuttle positioner for adjusting the position of the shuttle in the receiving box preparatory to transfer to the shuttle transfer passageway.

11. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a shuttle receiving box, a conveyor for returning the shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor having a transfer passageway therein, in combination with a shuttle expeller with drive means for expelling a shuttle from the passageway to the conveyor, a shuttle retainer responsive to position of the shuttle expeller to retain shuttles in the passageway until the shuttle expeller is actuated by said drive means, said shuttle retainer and said shuttle expeller being alternatively movable into the transfer passageway, and the retainer having a wing portion engageable by said expeller when retracted from the passageway for holding the retainer in shuttle blocking position in the passageway, a shuttle detector comprising a movable detector member movable in response to the presence of a shuttle, having a toothed portion, a sliding rod having a toothed portion normally disengaged from the toothed portion of the detector member but adapted to engage said toothed portion of the detector member when the detector is not moved to its position indicating the shuttle presence and drive means for the sliding rod, both of said drive means including a normally stationary resiliently held connection and stop mechanism responsive to displacement of said normally stationary resiliently held connection for shutting down the weaving machine in response to faulty operation of the shuttle, causing interference ,with said shuttle expeller or the sliding rod of said shuttle detector.

12. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle picker, a shuttle receiving box, a conveyor for returning the shuttles from the receiving box to the shuttle picker and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor having a transfer passageway therein, in combination with a shuttle expeller with drive means for expelling a shuttle from the passageway to the conveyor, a shuttle retainer actuated by the shuttle expeller according to the position thereof to retain shuttles in the passageway until the shuttle expeller is actuated by said drive means, and a shuttle opener.

13. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type, having a shuttle receiving box, a conveyor for returning the shuttles from the receiving box and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor, having a transfer passageway therein, a combination comprising a shuttle expeller with a moving pivot, a shuttle retainer with a fixed pivot and means for carrying said moving pivot toward said fixed pivot to drive the expeller into the passageway for expelling a shuttle from the passageway and to deflect the shuttleretainer.

14. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle receiving box, a shuttle conveyor and a shuttle guideway interposed between the receiving box and the conveyor having a passageway therein, a combination comprising an elongated shuttle expeller movable substantially longitudinally in the direction of its length into and out of said passageway, a deflectable shuttle retainer and means for alternately retracting said shuttle expeller and driving said shuttle expeller into said passageway for expelling a shuttle from the passageway and engaging the retainer for deflecting the retainer from the passageway.

15. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a shuttle guideway with a transfer passageway therein, a shuttle expeller, an expeller crank with a drive shaft beside said passageway pivotally supporting said expeller and a shuttle retainer pivotally secured to said guideway with a retainer nose adapted to extend into said passageway but deflectable therefrom and a tail end extending in the opposite direction from said retainer nose, lying between said expeller and said expeller shaft whereby rotation of said expeller shaft drives said expeller into said passageway for expelling a shuttle therefrom and simultaneously releases the tail end of the shuttle retainer for permitting the retainer nose to be deflected ege'ssgsao 11 out of the passageway for releasing 'ashuttleacted upon thythe expeller.

16. Ina loom for weaving of the type having gripper shuttles, shuttle picking vmeans, shuttle receiving and braking means, andshuttle return means 'for returning the shuttles from said receiving and braking means to said picking means; a guideway for the shuttles interposed between said receiving and braking means .and said return means,-shuttle expelling means for expelling the shuttles from said guideway, and blocking :means adapted to be actuated by said expelling'meansand controlling passage ofthe shuttles from said guideway to said return means.

17. -In a gripper shuttle loom as definedin claim .16, locking means for locking said blocking meansin blocking position.

18. In agripper shuttle loorn a'ccording'toclaim l7, said loeking means being adaptedtobe actuated by said expelling means.

19. Ina gripper shuttleloom of the typehaving shuttle picking means,'shuttle receiving and braking'means, and shuttle return means for returning theshuttles'fromsaid receiving and braking means to said picking means; ,passage meansfor the shuttles interposed between .said Ireceiving and brakingmeans and said return means, shuttle expelling means for expelling the shuttles from :saidpassagemeans, and a blockinglever having anarm adapted to block discharge of shuttles fromsaidpassage means and havinganother arm adapted to be engaged by said expelling means for locking said lever in the position in which it blocks dischargeof shuttles from said passage means.

20. In a gripper shuttle loom of the type having shuttle picking means, shuttle receiving and braking means,

and shuttlereturn means forreturning the shuttles from said receiving'and braking means to said picking'means; passage means for the shuttles interposed between said receiving and braking means and 'said return means, shuttle expelling means for expelling the shuttles from said passage means, and a blocking lever adapted to block dischargeof shuttles from said'passage means and tobe engaged by said expelling means forlocking said lever in its blocking position.

21. In a gripper shuttle loom ofthe type having shuttle picking means, shuttle receiving and braking means, and shuttle returnrneans for returning the shuttles from said receiving and braking means to said'picking means; passage means for the shuttles interposed between'said receiving and braking means-and said return means,

shuttle expelling means for expelling the shuttles-from said passage means, said expelling means comprising a shaft which is oscillated for actuating the expelling means, a blocking lever adapted to block-discharge of shuttles from said passage 'means, and locking means I connected with said shaft and adapted to engage sa-id lever for locking it in blocking position upon a predetermined position of said shaft.

:22. Ina loom'for weaving of the-type having gripper shuttles, shuttle picking means, shuttle receiving and braking means, and shuttle return'means for returning the shuttles from said receiving a'nd braking means to said picking means; a guideway for'the shuttles interposed between said receiving and braking -means and said return means, shuttle expelling means adapted 'to extend periodically into said guideway for advancingtbe shuttles-therein, and blocking means adapted to be actuated 'by the shuttles upona'dvancement thereof in said guideway by said expelling means -for controlling 'pa'ssage of the shuttles from said guideway to said return means, said blocking means having-a wing portion-engageable by the expelle'r for holding the blocking means in blocking position in the guideway.

123. .;In a loom ffor weaving of the =type thavin'g sgripp'er shuttles, .shuttle picking .m'eans, shuttle receiving Land braking means, and shuttle return *means for .returning theshuttles from saidireceiving and rbrakingmeansdo said picking means; :a guideway for ithe iishuttles ainterposed between. said receivingand braking means andflsaid return means,'shuttle expellingmeansior Lexpelling the shuttles from zsaid:guideway,=and 'blockingimeansmdapted to .beactuatedlbysaid expelling means by ithe 'agency of said shuttles for controlling passage Of theshuttleStfmm said 'guideway I to .said return: means.

24. In a loom lfor weaving of thetype havingigripper shuttles, shuttle picking -means, shuttle receiving :and braking means, and shuttle return imeans for returning the shuttles fromsaid .receiving and braking means to said picking means; a :guideway for theshuttl'es rinterposed between said receiving and :braking 'meansfands'said return means, shuttle :expelling means tforiexpelling'rthe shuttles from said guideway,blockingmeansladaptedlto be actuated'zby'said expelling means an'dcontrolling passage of the shuttles :from saidguideway tosaidreturn means, drivemeans'for saidzexpelling meanscomprising a cam and a lever iactuatediby said cam, ia displaceable support forthe :fulcrum of said :lever, resilient 1means connected with-said support for-urging it to normalaoperating position andiaffording yielding displacement of the fulcrum of =the lever upon improper operation 20f :said expelling means.

25. In a loom for weaving of the type'havinggripper shuttles, shuttle picking lmeans, shuttle :receiving and braking means, and shuttlereturn means for :returning the shuttles from said receivingand'braking meansto said picking means; a .guideway Ifor the shuttles -interposed between said receiving and braking means and said return means,'shuttle expellingmeansrforiexpelling the shuttleszfrom said guideway,blocking means :adapted to be actuated by said expelling rmeansand controlling passage of the shuttles from; saidguideway :tosaid: return means, drive means for operating said expelling means, and a yieldingly displaceable member :connected with said drive means and adaptedtobe yieldinglyzdisplaced upon improperoperation of said'expelling means.

26. In a loom for weaving as defined in claim :25, loom stop means connectedwith and actuatediby said member upon displacement thereof.

27. In a loom for weaving of'the type having. gripper shuttles, shuttle picking means, shuttle receiving and braking means, and shuttle return.meanstor'returning the shuttles from said receiving and'brakingnmeans to said picking means; a guideway for the shuttles interposed between said receiving and braking means and said return means, shuttle expellingmeans :for :expelling the shuttles from said guideway, and blocking means engaged by said expelling means and adapted to be locked in blockingposition by said expellingmeans when the latter are in rest position, said expelling means being adapted-to release said blocking'means-when :said exp'elling means move'to expel a shuttle.

References Cited-in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,519,274 Moessinger Aug. 15, 19:50 2,538,798 Pfarrwaller :Jan. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country .Date

179,034 Switzerland Dec. 2, 1935 227,107 Switzerland Aug. 16, .1943 

